Training for Virgin London Marathon 2019, from 10K

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SallyCongram So I rocked up to Park Run, still not 100% confident in the calf, and there's the ''Alps" to climb at our local Saturday morning jog. My first attempt at hills since my injury the beginning of October, so I was a bit nervous. I found my friend Lesley and she had her fur baby Bentley with her, so it seemed a perfect opportunity to catch up and run at a moderate pace, Bentley is injured so isn't allowed to run too fast. As we approached the back of the start line we bumped into our friend Helen, with her lovely pup Cooper, who was doing his first Park Run. We had quite a laugh as Cooper puled and jerked Helen around, he was very enthusiastic at the beginning 1/2 mile. It was a great run together, I really, really enjoyed it

Went for a run with Lisa again, we stuck to a nice flat route, it wasn't fast, even though my lungs were on fire at one point, peaked at 9:37 minute mile pace, which explains it, overall, it was a great run. The legs felt good, all that stretching and strengthening is starting to pay off. First run in many weeks that didn't hurt. Finished with a few cool down walk and some stretches. I am buzzing to finally have a ''good run'' all be it a short, can't wait to run again now, but must be sensible and rest today, apart from strength and stretch exercises. Hopefully I can put my injury troubles behind me

Today my friend Lisa asked me to go for a short run, about 5-6k, I thought it was a good opportunity to test out the legs. We headed to a route we knew well that was nice a flat, allowing me to avoid hills, as we all know they are the calf testers, and I wasn't ready to put them under any strain. Physio always recommends a test run on the flat and to walk the hills to see how everything feels. With that in mind, there are a couple of inclines that are short so it was perfect. The weather was good, for this time of year, so we set off. It was actually a good run but I could feel my left calf around the injury spot, which sets off alarm bells, Is it about to got tight again? Should I stop? Is this what cramp feels like? Am I being paranoid? Is it just weak?....... Don't you just hate the post injury phase, where you are full of doubt and paranoia that something is about to bring your run to an abrupt end. I actually managed 3.4 miles but the time we had arrived bac...

Trying to refrain from running is harder than running itself, which is kind of weird, since I don't particularly enjoy running whilst I am doing it. A feeling, I have discovered, many runners experience, odd isn't it, that we do this, for the endorphin high we feel at the end.  I am trying to maintain my fitness whilst coming slowly back to running. I can feel it dropping off a bit, however, I feel physically stronger than before in my legs, with the exercises I have been doing, the heel dips, calf stretches, ham string resistance stretches etc and plan to add in squats, core work  and planks, once a week. My current regime is 20 resistance stretches to my calf, 20 resistance stretches to my hamstring, 20 heel dips, I am having to do both legs at the same time at the moment as they are not really strong enough to do singularly yet but am working up to 20 on each leg, I can manage 5 on each leg at the moment, but rather than push them to the limit I am playing safe and d...

Eliptical Training adds new meaning to the phrase ''feel the burn'' After 2 weeks off from running, and several pounds gained (probably due more the chocolate consumption than the lack of exercise) today was back to the grind. I have continued to do my strength exercises, heel dips, resistance stretches etc, on my calves, as well as general stretching everyday. I thought it was about time I cleared all the clothes off the elliptical machine and try using it for its intended purpose. I haven't been on it for about a year, and had forgotten how hard it actually is, even with no resistance 😜 I put on an audio book "This is going to hurt, by Adam Kay'' a book written by a doctor, kind of ironic title, must of been my subconscious, warning me from memory of what was to come. Physio warned me, keep your feet flat, do not come up onto your toes at any point, he said try 30 mins and see how you feel 😂 easy I thought, umm, not quite, it turn...